The Committee
Responsibility for the management of the Club lies with the Full Committee, comprising up to 10 volunteer members who, since incorporation in 2021, have been directors of Hornet Services Sailing Club Limited. Members are appointed to the Committee at the Annual General Meeting, normally in April. The term-length is 3 years, renewable. Day-to-day management of the Club is delegated to the Executive Committee, a sub-committee of the Full Committee, comprising the Flag Officers and General Manager.
The Full Committee/Board of Directors comprises:
FLAG OFFICERS
Commodore: Rear Admiral Richard Stokes CBE
Richard joined the Club and became a berth-holder in 2017. He joined the Committee in 2019 and was appointed Commodore in 2020. As Commodore, he is Chair of the Full Committee/Board & the Executive Committee, and is responsible for overseeing the running of the Club, and representing the Club to external organisations.
Richard and his wife, Claire, sail a Maxi 1100, Skybird, mostly around the South Coast, Channel Islands and France. He served 37 years in the Royal Navy as a Submarine Weapon Engineer Officer, including sea jobs in HMS Resolution, HMS Ocelot, and HMS Torbay. He retired from the Royal Navy in May 2018, his final job being Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Support), where he was responsible for running the 3 Naval Bases (Portsmouth, Devonport, Clyde), and for the Navy's infrastructure, logistics and engineering support. Richard is Chair of UK Sailing Academy, a large sailing charity based in Cowes and the largest RYA training school in the world. He is also a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Cruising Club, and a Younger Brother of Trinity House.
E: Commodore@hornetservicessailing.org.uk
Vice Commodore: Paul Anderson
Paul joined the Club and became a berthholder in 2013. He joined the Committee and took on the role of Vice-Commodore in 2024. As Vice Commodore he deputises for the Commodore and has particular responsibility for Health & Safety.
Paul and his wife, Tania, live locally and both are fully involved in all aspects of Club life. Paul served for over 30 years in the Royal Air Force, joining as an airman and progressing through the ranks before commissioning into the Air Traffic Control Branch. Serving in a variety of UK locations and RAF Germany, it was only when based at Swanwick that he discovered an appetite for sailing on a unit expedition and completed his sailing qualification with the Joint Services Adventurous Sail Training Centre at Hornet. Whilst serving he was a keen advocate of sailing and introduced several novices to the activity. Having retired from the RAF in 2015 he now works for NATS as a project manager. Paul & Tania relish their time sailing on their yacht Moonfleet and they are looking forward to a time when sailing is dictated by tide and weather rather than time off work, which is hopefully not too far away!
E: paul.anderson@hornetservicessailing.org.uk
Treasurer / Finance Director: Nick Walker
Nick joined the Club and became a berthholder in 1986. He joined the Committee in 2021 in the role of Treasurer / Finance Director where he has oversight of the Club's finances and financial management.
Currently without a boat, Nick enjoys the convivial Services atmosphere of the Club and is keen to use the berthing facilities again just as soon as he retires and finds a little more time. Amongst his notable sailing achievements Nick lists getting stranded on Hamilton Bank! Nick joined the Royal Navy as an Artificer Apprentice in 1977 and made CPO in 1984, having trained at Fisgard, Caledonia, Collingwood and Sultan. He served in the old HMS Bulwark, HMS Hermes in the Falklands conflict in 1982, and HMS Intrepid. After leaving the Navy in 1987, he studied Accountancy and qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant. Nick worked in senior financial and general management positions in industry both before and after qualifying. He has been Finance and IT Director at Covers Timber and Builders Merchants since 2014. Nick is also a rock guitarist and musician of some repute who has entertained Members at the Club on more than one occasion. He is also a keen mountain biker.
E: nick.walker@hornetservicessailing.org.uk
Rear Commodore (Marina): Steve Jones
Steve joined the Club in 2017 and became a berth-holder the same year. He joined the Committee in Nov 2022 and Rear Commodore (Marina) in Apr 24. As Rear Commodore (Marina) he has oversight of all boat-related activities in the Marina and FB3, including berth allocation.
Steve has owned a yacht with his wife Naomi for many years. Initially a 23' Hunter Duette which was moored at Tudor Sailing Club in Langstone Harbour, where he also raced a RS Vision dinghy and was active on various committees - Dinghy Captain, Mooring Secretary and Bosun. For the last 10 years he has owned and sailed a Sadler 29, Eureka. Steve joined the Army and was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals in 1975 and served in a variety of roles in the UK and overseas. On leaving the Army in 1999 he worked in the military satellite industry for Astrium and Paradigm as a programme manager, delivering a number of welfare and operational communication projects which supported all three Services during the later stages of operations in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
E: berthing@hornetservicessailing.org.uk
Rear Commodore (House): Post Vacant
OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Brad Carter
Brad joined the club in 2021 as a Full Member and transitioned to the new Family Membership in 2025. He joined the committee in late 2024, eager to contribute his expertise in running a business and in digital systems. As a sailor with a young family, he brings a valuable perspective, helping to ensure the Club remains a thriving and an inclusive community for all Members. Brad was born in Portsmouth and grew up in Gosport, where his passion for sailing began at an early age. He first took to the water in a Mirror dinghy that he restored with his father, sailing out of Alverstoke Creek. From there, he progressed to racing a Dart 18 at Stokes Bay Sailing Club and spent time sailing out of Hornet on a friends family yacht. He is now based in Hillhead with his wife and two children and has sailed regularly out of Hornet for over a decade.
Brad joined the Royal Air Force in 2003 as an Electronics Communications Technician (Signals) and served overseas, including in Afghanistan. After leaving the RAF, he contracted for the MOD through Paradigm/Astrium, which took him back to Afghanistan and other locations in the Middle East. For the last 10 years he has run his own engineering company specializing in media and broadcast technology. Beyond sailing, he is also passionate about surfing and kitesurfing and is a keen climber.
E: brad.carter@hornetservicessailing.org.uk
Steve Little: Cruising Sec
Steve joined the Club initially as an Associate Member in 2011, and as a Full Member in 2012. He joined the Committee in 2019 and has subsequently taken on the role of Cruising Sec. Steve was born in Edinburgh in August 1989 and moved to Worksop, Nottinghamshire when he was young. He began sailing on Sandhill Lake, known locally as Godfrey's Pond, at the age of 6 in an Optimist and later a hand-built Mirror. At age 10 he joined Worksop Sea Cadets, TS Bentinck, and began sailing Bosuns, Toppers and Lasers. He joined the Royal Navy in November 2005 as a Marine Engineering Mechanic, initially based in Plymouth on Type 23 Frigates. He transferred to the Submarine Service in 2008, and served in HM Submarines Trenchant, Victorious, Vengeance and Vanguard. In 2010, Steve began doing courses at JSASTC and by 2012 he was a Coastal Skipper. During this time he owned a Listang 25 yacht called Mustang which was berthed at Quay Lane. In 2014 he bought Cherie, a Foxhound 24, from a fellow Club Member and became a berth holder. Steve was medically discharged from the Royal Navy in August 2016 as an Acting Petty Officer. Steve and his wife Sophie are strong supporters of Club functions and organise the Club's rally program.
E: steve.little@hornetservicessailing.org.uk
Lieutenant Commander Dan Murphy - Serving Members Rep
Dan joined the Club as a berth-holder in 2024 before joining the Committee later that year. He is passionate about, and champions opportunities for, Service Personnel from across the armed forces, and their families, to get afloat, as well as being a keen racer and advocate for RNSA. Dan joins the committee following previous volunteer roles as Head of Adventurous Training for the Sea Cadets, and as a director for a youth activity provider, where his background is in Business Continuity and Organisational Resilience. Dan started sailing in Central London aged 12, campaigning Laser Radials at County and National youth regattas. He joined the Royal Navy at 16 and following 18 years below decks, commissioned from the ranks in 2017. He is currently the Operations Officer at Royal Navy Recruitment. Dan and his partner Lucy own Rapscallion, a Feeling 850 based at HSSC, and can often be found afloat with their young children.
E: dan.murphy@hornetservicessailing.org.uk
Captain Alison Towler Royal Navy (Ret'd)
Alison joined the Club in 2000 as an Associate Member alongside her husband Perrin who remains the Berth-holder Member. She has been actively involved in both sailing and social activities throughout this long association with the Club and has been a proactive consultee and adviser at milestone events during its recent history. She joined the Committee in late 2024. She is committed to maintaining a thriving club, retaining its Service ethos and respecting its history while taking it forward in a manner sustainable in the long run.
Alison served 30 years in the WRNS and Royal Navy, initially as a Logistics Officer including at sea, and latterly as a Naval barrister. Her distinguished career culminated in appointment to the Service Prosecuting Authority based at RAF Northolt from where she retired in 2017. On retirement she became a Commissioner for Lymington Harbour where she served on the Health and Safety, Environment and Personnel committees, before in 2021 being elected as Chair. Alison is also President of the Association of Wrens and Women of the Royal Naval Services and undertakes other charitable roles including in Lymington Choral Society and St Thomas Church Lymington, singing being a favoured pastime.
Hailing from the north coast of Cornwall, Alison has spent her life on, in or beside the water. In 1993 she took up sailing a Hurley 20 bilge-keeler from Calstock in Cornwall (cruising the West Country), and during her naval career completed formal sailing (Coastal Skipper) and power boat training at JSASTC and Whale Island as well as several Challenge Yacht adventures. She has competed in Wednesday Evening Sailing at Hornet, and has crewed yachts and driven safety boats as a member of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club as well as serving on committees there. Also a member of the Bar Yacht Club, Alison prefers cruising, mainly on the south coast of England and across the Channel in Westerly Fulmar Spread Eagle.
E: alison.towler@hornetservicessailing.org.uk
Last Updated: February 2025
Last updated 15:57 on 16 March 2025